Today is Hostos Day in Puerto Rico, when they celebrate the life of Eugenio Maria de Hostos, who helped further education and national identity, not only in his homeland, but many nearby countries in the Carribean.

In 1875, Hostos went to the Dominican Republic, where he founded, in Santo Domingo, the first Normal School (Teachers College) and introduced advanced teaching methods, although these had been openly opposed by the local Catholic Church; nonetheless, his response to these criticism was calm and constructive, as many of his writings reveal. In 1876, Hostos traveled to Venezuela and married Belinda Otilia de Ayala. Their maid of honor was renowned Puerto Rican poet Lola Rodríguez de Tió. He returned to the Dominican Republic in 1879 when the first Normal School was finally inaugurated. He was named director and he helped establish a second Normal School in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros.[4]

In 1900, Hostos returned to the Dominican Republic, where he continued to play a major role in reorganizing the educational and railroad systems.

On August 11th, 1903, Hostos died in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is buried in the National Pantheon located in the colonial district of that city. Per his final wishes, his remains are to stay permanentely in the Dominican Republic until the day Puerto Rico is completely independent. Then and only then, does he want to be reinterred in his native homeland. Hostos wrote his own epitaph:[5]
"I wish that they will say: In that island (Puerto Rico) a man was born who loved truth, desired justice, and worked for the good of men."

I find Hostos' involvement with Dominican Republic interesting. My in-laws are missionaries there, with SCORE International (see a link to the right for more info about that organization). David will be going on his first visit to that country in February.

Learn more about Hostos here.